The Best Outdoor Ice Rinks

Whether you’re a figure skater in training or the type to cling on to the sides, outdoor ice skating is a magical must-try during the festive season. From glittering glides to 18th century skating splendour we’ve found a few of the coolest outdoor ice rinks to try for a fun day out this Christmas.

1 Go for a glittering glide around The Canary Wharf Ice Rink

Pay a visit to London’s business district for an extravagant LED light experience this winter. The Canary Wharf Ice Rink is following a ‘LuminoCity’ theme for 2016, offering over 8,000 sparkling LED lights to skate under. For those who prefer the action off ice, the bar offers a range of seasonal drinks and nibbles.

Stop by Henry VIII’s sixteenth-century dwellings for a skate around its gorgeous 900-metre-square outdoor rink. The beautiful building makes a majestic background – the perfect setting for an afternoon with that special someone.

For a truly spectacular experience, visit Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland’s ice rink. The biggest outdoor rink in the UK, the enormous rink surrounds the Victorian bandstand and is illuminated with more than 100,000 lights. Whilst there’s no minimum age for skaters, under-12s must be accompanied by someone aged 16 or over.

Where: London, W2 4RU
When: Until 2 January
How much: £9.50. Find out more here.

4 Skate in a spectrum of colour at Brighton’s Pavillion ice rink

Visit the most beautiful rink in the South East, Brighton’s Royal Pavilion Ice Rink for a stunning and atmospheric ice skating experience. With the former Royal pleasure palace as its backdrop, this hidden gem of a rink is beautifully lit at night with a spectrum of pink and purple colours. Perfect for a wintery day out, visitors can also indulge with tasty food in the pop-up rinkside bar and restaurant.

Somerset House’s grand 18th-century courtyard provides a mesmerising location for an outdoor skating session this December. Whether you’re a novice or a skating pro, this 900-square-metre outdoor rink never fails to provide an afternoon of fun. Even better, pay a visit to the nearby Fortnum’s Lodge for the perfect post-skate glass of Champagne.